WHAT:
The Sweet Wormwood or (Artemisia Annua Plant) is an annual aromatic herb from
Asia, and has been used in China to treat fevers for more than 2000 years. In
Traditional Chinese Medicine it is often prescribed in combination with other
herbs to treat, in addition to fevers, jaundice, headache, dizziness, and
nosebleeds. The genus Artemisia belongs to the sunflower family and includes
many well-known plants used in medicine, perfumery, and food and drink
industry, such as (Teragon, Absinthe, and Mugwort or Sweet wormwood). The sweet
wormwood contains the chemical artemisinin and its aerial parts and is
used in making antimalarial drugs. Artemisinin and its precursors (including
arteannuin B, artemistene, artemisinic acid, artemether, and etc...) are of
significant interest for the treatment of cerebral and drug resistant cases of
malaria. Artemisinin and its precursors have also shown activity against a
number of tumor cell lines. A decoction of Artemisia has also been shown
clinically to be a good choleretic in the regulation of gall bladder mobility.
WHY:
Malaria must be considered as one of the most common tropical diseases. It
causes a greater economic loss than any other disease and it is a major cause
of infant mortality in many developing countries, particularly in Africa. It is
recognized that new drugs are urgently needed because of the resistance of
plasmodium species to current chemotherapy and other drugs. Therefore searching
for new antimalarial compounds from plants is of increasing clinical interest.
The Chinese antimalarial drug artemisinin is one such new drug of current
interest. Artemisinin has rapid action and is effective against
chloroquine-resistant malarial parasites and has a different mode of action
from existing blood schizonticides, (which are agents that kill schizonts) and
schizonts are the cells that undergo schizogony or asexual reproduction to form
daughter cells in your blood stream.
WHO:
As for the who, that can be benefited with the Artemisia Annua Plant would be
all who may undergo treatments of malaria, through artemisinin and derivatives,
or may use the plant for tea remedies for fevers, jaundice, headaches,
dizziness, and nosebleeds. Note, if pregnant avoid use. Artemisinin and its
derivatives, in particular artemether, have a toxic effect on embryos.
WHERE
AND WHEN: where and when can you grow the Artemisia Annua
Plant? It is in flower from August to September, and the seeds ripen from
September to October. The flowers are Hermaphroditic, having both male and
female organs, and are pollinated by insects. Suitable for light (sandy) and
medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally
poor soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers
dry or moist soil. A rain-fed crop requires at least 600-650mm of rain fall. As
with most medicinal herbs, artemisinin's contents and efficacy are subject to
climatic, geographical and environmental conditions. Not all Artemisia Annua plants necessarily
contain artemisinin and in some places, depending on the quality of the soil
and rainfall, the content may be very low and without industrial value. These
factors make it necessary to run pilot tests of cultivation on small areas of
land to ensure that the land selected is suitable for growing high-yield plants
before large-scale cultivation begins. Cultivation of Artemisia Annua requires a minimum of 6 months and extraction,
processing and manufacturing of the final product require at least 2–5 months
depending on the product formulation. High temperatures during post-harvest
handling can damage the quality of the plant. After harvesting or collection,
the artemisinin content of the leaves will gradually decrease. The value of the
raw material for extraction can be lost after six to twelve months’ storage. To
buy seeds: https://www.horizonherbs.com/product.asp?specific=747
HOW:
To use Artemisia Annua Plant? Drugs are primary weapons for reducing malaria in
human populations. However emergence of resistant parasites has repeatedly
curtailed the lifespan of each drug that is developed and deployed. Currently
the most effective anti-malarial is artemisinin, derived from the dried
Artemisia Annua Plant. When using artemisinin you use the (ACT) or Artemisinin
Combination Therapy. When combining or using combination therapy with
Artemisinin, this reduces the risk or the malaria bug developing resistance,
where if you would just use Artemisinin by its self you would have a higher
chance for the malaria schizonts, or cell to gain resistance.
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